adj
derivative
dih-RIH-vuh-tihv
adj
1
Copying or imitating someone else's work rather than being original.
"Critics dismissed the album as derivative of much better bands."
noun
1
A financial contract whose value is based on an underlying asset, such as a stock or commodity.
"The bank lost millions trading complex derivatives."
2
In mathematics, a measure of how a function's output changes as its input changes; the rate of change or slope.
"Students learn to calculate the derivative of a function in calculus class."
How to Use Derivative
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething based on, or copied from, something else — used for unoriginal work, financial products, and rates of change in maths.
When to use it
As an adjective describing creative work, it's usually a criticism, implying lack of originality.
Common pairings
derivative work
financial derivative
take the derivative
Word Forms
more derivative comparative, derivatives plural, most derivative superlative
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Etymology
From Latin derivatus, past participle of derivare, "to derive"; related to derive.